Project Athena Richmond Relay Marathon

WE LOVE YOU RICHMOND! PROJECT ATHENA IS COMING BACK!!!

April 27, 2013
The Historic Tredegar Ironworks
Richmond, VA

Calling all Richmond Gods and Goddesses! Grab your friends, coworkers and family members and join us for a truly unique running experience--and all for a great cause! In the Project Athena Relay Marathon, each member of your 4 person team will run a 6.55 mile loop on the James River Trail, for a combined total of 26.2 miles!

This format represents the perfect messaging about what Project Athena stands for: teamwork, support and accomplishing more together than we can alone (and having more fun along the way!)

The Richmond Relay Marathon will also include a free Mini Athena/Mini Zeus Kids Challenge: a 1k fun run with an obstacle course finish!

Teams comprised of 4 individuals will each run a 10K lap (for a cumulative "marathon" time) in the very scenic and beautiful downtown Richmond area. Our goal is to have at least 300 teams of "Fundraising Gods/Goddesses"-- that's you!) as well as to honor 50 local Survivors at the start all of whom receive free entry. If you would like to apply for an Athenaship, fill out the application and we'll contact you regarding your registration!

Don't have a team? Don't worry! You can still sign up and then head to our Facebook page and post a "Team up!" note! Just create your team (that means you'll be Team Captain!) and start recruiting! Give your new team mates the name of your team so when they go to register, they can hit the button that says "join an existing team"!! Or if you prefer, you can look around our Facebook page and see who is recruiting for THEIR team.

All female Survivors that participate in the Richmond event also have the opportunity to apply for a larger “Athenaship” or scholarship that could fund and support their dream adventure as a part of their recovery.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This year the run will start at the Historic Tredegar Ironworks, crossing the street to Brown's Island, and then it's an easy enough, pleasant jog along the canal, across the river, and on top of the flood wall with a great view of the city. Athletes then turn onto a dirt trail and suddenly an 80-foot vertical climb up railroad ties stares them in the face.

They call it the Mayan Ruins because it looks just as gnarly as a 2000-year-old temple. After that quad burner, things get easy again for a little while but all kinds of climbs, twists and turns lie ahead. A cool section of forested single-track meanders through the woods along the river, leading back to the access bridge and Belle Isle.

You’ll then turn left following the access road (toward the old generation station) then up the single track, crossing the main access road to the top of the island. Here you’ll just have to guess – this is the trail section and can only be enjoyed in it’s entirety the day of the race. You’ll descend the island at the eastern hill turning back north towards the city. You’ll cross the hanging bridge then turn back east toward Brown’s Island and the finish at Ironworks!! Time for a beer!

Mini-Athena/Zeus Kidz Challenge
A fun run for the younger crowd! 1K for ages up 8 and a 2K for ages 9-12. This run is FREE!

FeesRelay Marathon:$50 per person increasing to $60 per person at midnight, March 16.

Kidz Run: FREE!!!

Entry Fee is 100% Tax Deductible

All race participants will receive a Tech-Tee, unique AthenaGirl finisher's medal, as well as other goodies from some of our sponsors! We'll also have a raffle for prizes from our sponsors and local businesses!

Transfers: You can transfer your registration to another person by logging into your Race-It account and clicking on the transfer button. Transfers will be accepted up until 11:59PM on April 12. Any requests for transfers after that date will incur a $5 transfer fee.

Refunds: Project Athena Foundation is a non-profit 501c3. Your registration fee is a tax deductible donation to the foundation and cannot be refunded.

Race Day - Saturday, April 27
5:15AM - 6:15AM
Historic Tredegar Ironworks
**You may have one person pick up the bibs for all teammates. We will not be handing out race bibs after 6:30am on race day!**

PARKING: Parking is available at the Federal Reserve Parking Garage, located at 701 East Byrd Street, between 7th and 5th Streets. The garage is located one block from the start and opens at 6AM.

START/CUT-OFF: Start time for the Project Athena Relay Marathon will be 7AM, and cut-off time will be 2PM (7 hours).

MINI ATHENA/MINI ZEUS KIDZ CHALLENGE: The Kidz event will begin at @ 11am. Kids will run a short 1/4 mile loop and then tackle the inflatable obstacle course! Divisions are 8 and under and 9-12. All kids will receive a finisher’s medal for participating!

RACE FORMAT: Each team will have a baton with a timing chip attached. The chip will begin timing your leg of the marathon as soon as you cross under the start/finish banner. When you return to Ironworks for the baton hand-off to your next team member, your hand-off may take place in any spot along the final 50 yard stretch to the start/finish banner. So when you arrive on race morning, just grab a small spot at any point along the final 50 yard chute leading to the start/finish arch (a blanket and shade umbrella might be a great plan! No easy- ups allowed). When it’s time for your hand-off, just move inside the chute, grab the baton and run toward the arch to start your leg to the roar of your adoring fans!

AWARDS: Beginning at 1PM, awards will be given to the top teams in each division.

Awards to each of the Top 5 Teams for:

All male

All female

Mixed

Awards to each of the Top 3 Teams for:

Ubergods

Ubergoddesses

Uber Mixed

(Uber teammates must all be 50 years or older on or before Dec 31, 2012)

There will also be Special Awards for Best Costumes/Team Uniform, Best Team Spirit, and #1 Fundraising Team! The #1 team in each division will also receive a special award for EACH team member!

Not racing but want to get involved??

CALLING ALL SURVIVORS!!! If you are a Survivor of a medical or traumatic setback and will be attending the race, we want to give you a special orange shirt and honor you at the start line! Please write to Sue Custodio at sue@projectathena.org , and let us know your shirt size.

VENDORS: If you are a vendor and are interested in having a booth space at the Project Athena Relay Marathon, drop Andrea a note at andrea@projectathena.org

VOLUNTEERS: If you have a friend or family member who would like to volunteer, please contact andrea@projectathena.org. All volunteers get an awesome and inspiring experience, and a Tech-Tee!

THANK YOU to our Local Supporters!

Project Athena would like to extend a huge thank you to the James River Outdoor Coalition (JROC) for all that they do to maintain the beautiful trails we'll be running on! Check out their website for more information and ways to help support them! http://www.jroc.net/

We'd also like to thank the following local friends for their support and contributions. We hope you will take a moment to visit their websites and Facebook pages and see all the great stuff and services they have to offer!

All entry fees are a 100% tax-deductible gift to the 501(c)3 Project Athena Foundation; 85% of donated funds currently go to programming costs for our Survivors. The Project Athena Foundation provides "Athenaship's" or grants to women who've experienced a medical or traumatic setback, in order to further their athletic and adventurous dreams.

"I am so glad that while running at Byrd Park one Saturday that someone put the flyer for Project Athena on my windshield. I didn't know what to expect, all I knew is that I wanted to do it. I talked 7 of my running partners in Sistas Do Run to join me and we had a ball. I have lived in Richmond all my life and run Brown Island and Canal Walk on a regular. However, I never knew about the ruins on the trail. I am so glad that I was on the first leg and got to climb them. The course was beautiful and I can't wait to do it again next year. This by far is the best race that I have ever run. I would just like to thank you again Robyn for answering all my questions I had before the race on Thursday."

-Cassandra Richardson Gray, Race Participant

"Just wanted to let you know it was an amazing event yesterday! My children said it was the best race event EVER! Richmond needs you to come back next year and the 'peeps' will do anything to keep the spirit going in Richmond VA! I love what your dream is made of and thank you for what you are doing for our survivors/my heros. As plans for next year's event get on your calendar, remember the Peeps!"